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Walsh selected for US$339 million Washington Bridge project
11 June 2025
US state of Rhode Island’s governor confirmed that Chicago-based Walsh Construction will rebuild the Washington Bridge, with the US$339 million contract including incentives for a targeted completion date in 2028.
Aerial view of Washington Bridge, prior to lane closure, between the cities of Providence and East Providence on Seekonk River in Rhode Island, US. (Image: Adobe Stock)
The new bridge will have a 100-year design life and a smaller overall footprint. Walsh’s plan calls for a full replacement of the existing substructure and fewer support piers in the river.
Demolition of the existing structure remains on track to finish by the end of 2025, with underwater removal work to begin after 1 July. Initial construction activities, including site prep and material orders, will begin later that month.
The rebuild will increase lane capacity from four to five and add an on-ramp from Gano Street to I-195 West, plus a new off-ramp to Waterfront Drive.
The project also aims to address longstanding congestion in East Providence by reconfiguring westbound lanes on I-195, replacing the Potter Street overpass, and relocating a pier connected to the I-195 East off-ramp.
Aesthetic features include lighting along the north side of the bridge and prefabricated arches over nearby streets to reference the original structure.
“Our goal was to provide a design and a plan to build a bridge that will carry 80,000 vehicles every day safely for 100 years,” said Rhode Island Department of Transportation Director Peter Alviti, Jr.
The state has included up to $10 million in early-delivery incentives, along with penalties of $25,000 per day for delays beyond the November 2028 deadline. The wider project cost, including inspection, incentive and contingency allowances, could total up to $427 million.
New chapter for partially-closed Washington Bridge
The rebuild follows a sudden shutdown of the bridge in December 2023, when a contractor discovered fractured tie-down rods critical to the bridge’s structural integrity.
A subsequent state inspection revealed broader deterioration in the post-tensioning system, prompting an immediate closure. The westbound lane of the bridge has been closed to traffic since.
In August 2024, the state filed a lawsuit in Providence/Bristol County Superior Court against 13 companies involved in past design, inspection, and construction of the bridge. The complaint alleged that the firms failed to identify or address the bridge’s deteriorating condition over a decade of contracted work.
The state argued that the complex cantilever and unique prestressed concrete beam design had suffered from cracked components, corrosion, and compromised cables over time. Officials concluded the bridge was no longer salvageable and would require full demolition and reconstruction.
The lawsuit is still ongoing.
Demolition work on the Washington Bridge resumed in autumn 2024 after a temporary pause tied to the state’s lawsuit. Shoring activity began on the East Providence side of the structure, with more intensive overnight demolition scheduled following a public meeting on 17 October. The state also advanced demolition of the bridge’s substructure, which was initially planned for the rebuild phase, into the existing contract, aiming to save time and avoid a separate procurement.
At the same time, Rhode Island launched a new two-step procurement process for the reconstruction, concluding with the selection of Walsh.
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